Industry News

Barry Wolins Has Left The Building

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 30 April, 2009 : - - Durban, South Africa -- After an incredibly successful 13 years at the helm of Quiksilver South Africa alongside Arthur Limbouris, Barry Wolins has decided to call it a day. It is the end of an immensely fruitful tenure that has seen Quiksilver rise from ground zero all those years ago to the biggest and most dominant surfwear brand in the country that it is today.

“We started with trestle tables in the office, and my ex wife’s husband bought me a second hand bakkie to get going,” reflected Barry, “And despite so many people telling us what we can and can’t do, we simply strived to make the brand cool, which we did.” 

Barry remembers an agent from another brand telling him right in the beginning that floral boardies don’t sell, yet his Quiksilver floral boardies were the biggest selling boardies ever. When opening their first Quiksilver Boardriders Store, people laughed at them and told them that single brand stores wouldn’t work. There are now 17 Quiksilver Boardriders Stores nationwide, as well as three Roxy Concept Stores, two DC Shoes Stores and five multi-brand TSS stores.

“When we opened that first store we didn’t hold back with the fittings and the fixtures,” said Barry. “We had the best light boxes and window displays, and we had a massive circular marine tank in-store. In our second store we had a giant octopus built into the ceiling, with fibre optic lights built into the tentacles, that filled the whole roof with light.”

Former Zigzag MD and a long time friend of Barry’s, Craig Sims commented from his new home in Australia when he heard the news that Barry was bowing out. “Barry has been a dominant, vocal and influential member of the surfing industry for the past 13 years,” said Sims. “He has made an impact on this place since the day he arrived from America saying he’d take Quiksilver to the top within 5 years, which he pulled off with a year or two to spare. Barry will be leaving having earned the respect of his peers.”

Barry was also the person behind the innovative and incredibly successful Quiksilver Goodwave event that has surfers flying from all over the country for a chance to compete in. Similarly, the Roxy Invitational Mozambique is another such unique and innovative event. 

The groundwork that Quiksilver did in the country and in the surf industry paved the way for many other brands, with many simply following similar steps that Quiksilver initiated. As a result, the South African surf industry is strong, and based on hard-working principles that Barry and Arthur have applied and stuck to since the beginning. “I’m going to miss Barry a whole lot after twenty five years,” said Arthur.

Barry’s shoes will be filled by the competent Stephen Price at Quiksilver, who has trained, travelled and worked with Barry for the best part of five years. Senior men’s designer Price is ready for the task. “It’s going to be a big challenge taking over from Barry,” said Price, “but I’m ready for it and want to take Quiksilver to the next level.”

As for Barry, it is time to slow down and spend time with his wife Michelle, and boys Seth and Nathan, and go surfing!

 

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www.quiksilver.co.za

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Dane Patterson

Industry - Surfersvillage